Saying yes to God: a gentle invitation

Familiar as we might be with the story of Elijah meeting God not in the tumultuous elements but in the gentle breeze, it can still be tempting to expect a call from God to be dramatic and imposing. Sometimes it is, while other people will receive a subtler invitation … but both require an answer. If you’ve ever wondered how to RSVP to God, listen to Georgia Clarke speak about her response on the Things I Wish I Knew podcast.

In the Christian tradition, the language of vocation often evokes images of dramatic callings — prophets summoned in the wilderness, apostles leaving their nets, saints receiving visions. Yet for most of us, the invitation to follow God comes quietly, woven into the fabric of daily life. It is discerned not in thunder but in stillness, not in certainty but in trust.

To say ‘yes’ to God is to enter into a relationship of listening and believing that God speaks, not only through Scripture and tradition, but through our desires, our circumstances and the people around us. And this revelation is at the heart of Ignatian discernment: a conviction that God is present and active in all things, and that our task is to notice, respond and trust. This discernment is not just for religious professionals or mystics; it is the task of every Christian seeking to live faithfully in the world.

The story of Georgia Clarke, a youth minister at the Catholic parish of St Elizabeth of Portugal in Richmond-upon-Thames, offers a contemporary example of such discernment. Her journey into ministry began during the Covid-19 lockdown, when she volunteered to lead a Zoom call for teenagers in her parish. What started as a simple act of service soon revealed itself as the beginning of a vocation. A proposal to expand youth ministry followed, and eventually, a full-time role emerged. Her experience illustrates how God’s call often comes through the needs of others and the quiet promptings of the heart.

Georgia’s discernment did not unfold in isolation. She speaks of a moment of clarity while driving where she sensed an invitation to move out of her shared flat and live alone with God. This decision, though unexpected, was accompanied by peace and a series of external confirmations. In Ignatian terms, this was a moment of consolation: a deep interior sense of alignment with God’s will, marked by freedom and joy. Such moments, while rare, often serve as anchors in the discernment process.

Yet, Georgia’s story also reveals the challenges of saying yes. Youth ministry, she notes, is not ‘cute’. It is more than simply organising activities or entertaining young people; it is a work of spiritual accompaniment, requiring patience, vulnerability and theological depth. Her reflections highlight the cost of discipleship and the need to persevere in love even when the path is difficult, or the fruit is unseen.

Central to her approach is the principle of trust. She encourages others not to be paralysed by the magnitude of their calling, but to take small, faithful steps. This principle echoes the Ignatian insight that discernment is often about responding to the grace of the present moment. The future may remain unclear, but the invitation is to act now, in freedom and love.

Her story also underscores the communal dimension of vocation. Georgia expresses gratitude for those who have supported her — mentors, colleagues and fellow parishioners. Likewise, in the Ignatian tradition, spiritual direction, communal prayer and shared reflection all play a vital role in helping individuals discern God’s call. The Church, as a discerning body, offers both companionship and accountability.

What emerges from Georgia’s experience is a theology of vocation rooted in availability. She did not set out to become a youth minister; she responded to a need, and in doing so discovered a path. It is the essence of Christian discernment: to be open to the unexpected, to recognise the voice of God in the ordinary, and to respond with generosity.

For those seeking to reflect more deeply on the nature of vocation and discernment, Georgia’s full story is available on the Things I Wish I Knew podcast. Her experience may resonate with your own, or it may prompt new questions. Either way, it is a reminder that God is always at work — inviting, guiding and waiting for our response.

Ultimately, saying yes to God is not about having all the answers. It is about being willing to listen, to trust and to take the next step. It is about believing that our ‘yes’ — however small — can be part of something far greater than we can imagine.

Listen to 'Things I Wish I Knew Before Saying Yes to God’; and to get all of our new episodes and catch up on our first series, subscribe now >>